tangledwoods

anytime I see renderings for a project with solar panels I just assume it will never be built....  and this is a mixed use project with solar panels, thats like double proforma confusion....

god those renderings are SEXY!  I love how they have segmented the building into targeted tenant chunks.  The semi-open garage is going to be interesting, that is always a tricky element on podium towers so hopefully the detailing will pay dividends. 

I cant help but see this a a major contrast against what is to me a bland Hines Block 58.  I know the location is very different and drives the design to an extent but I can see this building commanding higher rents than the other vanilla ice cream recent downtown projects (including their owner cap tower).

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I did not love the Churches chicken in the Fiesta cuz it was either way too fried or under-fried and soft. I'd rather get the fried chicken at 8pm at Krogers that they made at like 11am. 

This is the kind of extreme detail that i come to HAIF for!  

Sometimes the tangents on here annoy me but for some reason this is just mint!!

1. this is going to be a tricky building to build
2. that floor plan makes sense but hot digidty that is about 13lbs in a 10lb bag
3. skanska stock is at pretty much an all time high, they got money so might as well pump it into houston
4. I wonder if part of their underground work will be future connectivity to their other block to the north

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It is a delay at this point and not a cancelation like the Caydon stuff. I really think it has to do with construction prices. This should rebound with either changes or wait for prices to drop back to normal.

correcto, they tried to make subcontractors hold numbers and in this market everyone is freaking out.  Copper at record highs, lumber is bonkers and steel is through the roof.  It is a HORRIBLE time to try and buy anything.  We are going to see a lot of projects go on a 3-6mo procurement hold.

the north canal bypass project will really help to prevent water backup around this area.  

This project is now on hold.  The developer and GC couldnt come to terms on pricing.  

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The inner core looks so safe. Is this building also a nuclear bomb shelter?

 

most tall concrete buildings use a strong core to avoid perimeter shear walls.  This allows for better views and smaller perimeter columns.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shear_wall

For everyone worried, there is about a 99% chance this will end up as a Texas Live! or equal.  It's helpful to remember that companies like Live Nation and Cordish (folks behind the Live! brand) have been absolutely hosed by the pandemic.  Project financing is just not all that simple right now and mixed use projects like this one take time to get organized. 

For now just enjoyed the asphalt paved paradise.

who designed this thing?  Were they playing the lets use one of each glass type possible drinking game?

FWIW, I saw survey stakes yesterday on site.  Not sure if they are just shooting site corners or starting to layout the building.  It might be happening???

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 I doubt any GC is being paid that much for the work being done right now. The cost to rent trailers is a few hundred per month, and they'll cover any labor cost plus an admin fees, which I would imagine are pretty minimal given the site activity.

In regards to fundraising, the group running this is incredibly well capitalized - Money isn't the issue.

No GC will mobilize on a jobsite without MONTHLY fee which includes staffing.  Minimum staffing would be a Superintendent and maybe a PE.  There are 2-3 McCarthy trucks on that site every day and have been for a couple months.  Trust me, they are burning cash.  Hell they even had a truck load of timber delivered that is sitting around waiting to be used.

Painting your connex box is a prime example that McCarthy is just burning hours.  they dont need to do it (no crane is going to run into a connex on the ground).

Hopefully they will break ground soon, but it is hella weird to have staff onsite with nothing but busy work.

imagine paying a general contractor 100-200k per month to sit in their office trailers while you scramble for funding.  The apartments across the street will likely finish before this one gets out of the ground.

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Oh ok. I thought they used scaffolding to install the bricks?

What you are looking at is a "Mast Climber" in the construction world it is a form of scaffolding but obviously very different from what you see on the other elevations.  Typically used on taller structures, not really sure why they are using one here.

SafRise® Mast Climbers | Hoists and Lifts (brandsafway.com)

Just noticed a project at UCLA that looks suspiciously familiar.  So who had the curvey façade idea first?  Steven Hall or Johnston Marklee?

UCLA ARTS UNVEILS NEW MARGO LEAVIN GRADUATE ART STUDIOS | UCLA Arts

Johnston Marklee

normally I like buildings that look and feel new.  Something about the garage on this job looks 10 or even 20 years old and I kinda dig it. 

Mad props to the developer for taking a risk, I hope it pays off for them and encourages others (hint Skanska) to see Montrose has an area that will allow for a bit more creativity than other parts of town.

trains are cool I guess, but can we get back to talking about what an incredible parking lot this is about to be?

that is some harsh interior design for a residential project.... I can understand minimalism and exposed structure in public facing spaces but to do polished concrete floors with exposed ceilings in the residential area is pretty bleak.  White walls and white base make it look cold and borderline prison vibes (compare to UTHealth Continuum Of Care Campus For Behavioral Health).

And that bathroom... WTF  they couldnt afford to tile the floor?  I guess they spent all their money on the brick facade and ran out when it came to actual positive features for the building occupants.

Another great Rice project with Form >>>>> Function.

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I'm pretty sure he is being sarcastic, although knocking down historic buildings on a prime lot and paving it over would be peak Houston.  

My post was definitely sarcastic, but I will expand: (I dont have top secret knowledge of astros planning).  Long term this will likely end of as a cool development similar to Texas Live or other recent ballpark adjacent developments.

BUT, revenue is horrible right now for all sports teams and 2021 isnt exactly looking phenomenal for ticket sales.  My gut tells me that they will scrape the site, asphalt the thing for the short term and have it ready to go when their long term plans finalize.

here to cut the suspense, they will be building an asphalt parking lot.

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Can someone explain why they set back the bricks away from the building like in my first pic? I always assumed the bricks were built right next to a building but this pic shows something different.

Energy code requires exterior continuous insulation on pretty much all building types these days.  The typical solution is rockwool or foam board insulation.  Which is anywhere from 2-4in thick.  You then use z clips or girts to stand off the facade material which in this case is brick.

If you like to read:

https://www.rockwool.com/north-america/products-and-applications/external-wall-insulation/

Cladding Attachment thermal break - Thermal Bridging Solutions